SALADIN

(1137/38-93). During the First Crusade Christian warriors from Europe captured most of Palestine and its chief
city, Jerusalem. After holding the city for 88 years, it was taken from them on Oct. 2, 1187, by the armies of
Saladin, the most famous of Muslim military heroes. (See also Crusades.)
Saladin was born in 1137 or 1138 in Takrit, Mesopotamia. He grew up in Aleppo, Ba'lbek, and Damascus. As a teenager
he showed more inclination to become a Muslim scholar than a soldier. His military career began when he joined
the staff of his uncle, Asad ad-Din Shirkuh, a commander under the governor of northern Syria. When his uncle died,
Saladin--at age 31--was appointed commander of the troops and vizier of Egypt. In 1171 he abolished the Fatimid
Caliphate of Egypt and became the country's sole ruler. From 1174 to 1186 Saladin pursued the goal of uniting Egypt,
Syria, Palestine, and northern Mesopotamia under his flag. He accomplished this mostly by diplomacy, but he used
force when necessary. He turned the military balance in his favor by 1187 and threw his armies against the Christian
knights. He destroyed one of their armies near Tiberias and then went on to conquer Acre, Toron, Beirut, Sidon,
Nazareth, Caesarea, Nabulus, Jaffa, and Ascalon. Finally he captured Jerusalem. Saladin's conquest was civilized
and magnanimous.
The Christians were left with the well-fortified city of Tyre as their last major outpost in the Middle East. Saladin's
achievement spurred Europe to launch the Third Crusade, which failed to undo Saladin's conquests. After defeating
the last of the new crusaders in October 1192, Saladin returned to Damascus. He died there on March 4, 1193.